As Bettina’s face slammed into the mat, her limbs went in four different directions. She tried to get up, but her arms gave out and her face hit the mat again. With a cough, she looked up at me and tapped out.
Applause broke out from the side wall. I looked over and spotted Timothy leaning against the doorway, clapping his hands and smiling. “Ladies, great fight! Gen, terrifying as always. But Bettina, damn. Excellent job!”
“Oh…thanks…” Bettina blushed and rolled onto her back.
Gen stepped up and held her hand out for Bettina, and when she took it, she lifted Bettina to her feet. “Nice flip, B. ‘Bout time you use those legs to your advantage.”
Bettina chuckled and ran her hand over her hair. She peeked over at me with nervous eyes. When I smiled, her cheeks flushed a bright pink and my pulse skipped.
I peeled my eyes off of her and focused on Timothy walking up to me. He’d been fighting demons. He had a few bruises and cuts that hadn’t healed yet, which made my stomach turn. The dark, tired, haunted look in his eyes didn’t help.
I cleared my throat. “You’re back.”
He nodded. “For now. This war is just getting started. They’ll need us back in no time. For now, we keep the civilians thinking everything is under control.”
A cold chill slid down my spine. I did not like the way that sounded.
Timothy grinned. “All right, who’s up next?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BETTINA
“Just a fruit bowl for you today, Bettina?” my favorite lunch lady, Wendy, said with a frown. “You feelin’ okay?”
I sighed and shook my head. “Midterms are on Friday. That’s two days away.”
Wendy nodded and put something on my tray. “You’ll do great, dear. Have a cookie and keep your chin up.”
“Thanks, Wendy.” I scanned my ID to pay for my lunch, then picked up my tray and carried it over to the table where Lennox and I sat. On most days, it was just Lennox and me for lunch, unless Dean was in town. Some days, we had an extra person or two hanging around. Today, there were a dozen people hanging around our table. Actually, there were people hanging around the entire cafeteria in areas they weren’t usually. Something was off.
I frowned and slipped in beside Lennox. “Hey…”
One of the First Year Wands guys stood up from the table with a groan. “I’m going to go trash myself on pizza while I still can.” He marched toward the lunch line.
“What’s his problem?” I leaned closer to Lennox and whispered, “And what’s his name again?”
She shrugged. “You know I’m terrible with names.”
“Doesn’t she understand what’s at stake here? There’ll be no more pizza. Or tacos.” Another guy, one I’d never seen before, slammed his tray on the table then jumped up. “Why is she doing this? Why?”
Before we could answer or ask what he was talking about, he, too, was gone.
“I want to make fun of them but they’re not wrong.” Lennox sighed and leaned back against the wall. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s just history repeating itself,” one of the Cups girls grumbled. “She’s power hungry and willing to sacrifice everything for it.”
Lennox shook her head. “But what would she do with that power if the world falls to dust? I don’t get it.”
I cleared my throat. “Um, what are we talking about?”
The girl’s eyes widened. “The High Priestess.”
“What about her?” I picked up my fork and started rolling my fruit around my bowl.
“Wait, you don’t know?” The girl looked to Lennox. “How does she not know?”
“Back off, dudette. Tina here has been training like a beast for her Swords midterm in two days, so she’s focusing on things unlike the rest of us.” Lennox turned to me and grimaced. “Word hit the street a few days ago that the High Priestess has gone to the demons’ side.”
“We’re all doomed,” the girl mumbled.
My body went cold. I frowned. “Are you sure?”
Lennox nodded. “And The Coven isn’t having much luck in swaying her back, either.”
My heart sank. Lennox and the other girl continued talking about the High Priestess and everything she was rumored to be doing—all sounding particularly shady—but I wasn’t really listening. The High Priestess gave in to darkness, just like the prophecy had predicted. Samhain was only a matter of days away, so what was the point of school and studying if the demons were just going to destroy us on November 1?
I understood what Lennox meant. It didn’t make any sense for her to go dark. What was in it for her that we didn’t know about? And what would’ve triggered such a betrayal? The High Priestess had just gone into the Old Lands with the others to fight for us. So what happened and when?
Lennox and the table full of students all had their own theories, but I couldn’t just sit around. I jumped to my feet and threw my backpack over my shoulder. Silence filled the space around me. I looked to Lennox. “She may be about to destroy the world, but until she does, I’m gonna put up one hell of a fight. Which means doing well on my midterms.”
“Going back to train?” Lennox narrowed her yellow-green eyes at me. “You have to eat, too, Tina.”
“I promise I’ll eat a big dinner. Food and nerves don’t mix well for me.” I slid my fruit bowl and cookie over to her. “I’m going to train during lunch. I’ll see you after class.”
“Wait, hold up.” Lennox grabbed my shirt sleeve and pulled. She looked me up and down. “Good, you borrowed my leggings. Okay, go ahead, and if you see Lancelot, do the bend and snap!”
“Lennox!” I hissed. “I don’t like him.”
She gave me an overexaggerated wink and grin. I rolled my eyes and all but sprinted out of the cafeteria. I wasn’t leaving lunch to hunt down Jackson. Not with the whiplash he was giving me. One second he was a sweet puppy dog and the next a vicious snapping turtle. His mood was unpredictable, and I hated how much it affected me. As a matter of fact, he was a distraction.
In two days, I’d be sparring Jackson. I was a panicked disaster. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even drink water without getting sick. The last two weeks had both flown by and crept past. I’d done pretty well for two weeks of avoiding him. All I had to do was make it two more days, and I’d be able to focus on my training.
As I pushed the door to the training center open, I wondered if I wanted to go first or last. I walked up the center walkway that cut through the stadium-style seating area, then turned—and froze. Jackson was beating the hell out of a punching bag…shirtless. My heart fluttered and my body warmed. He was shirtless. Don’t turn around. Please turn around.
All that tan skin was out on display. Even with the sweat rolling down his spine, he was beautiful. He punched the bag a few times in a row, and all his chiseled muscles flexed and tightened. My pulse skipped embarrassingly, and I prayed he couldn’t hear it.
I started to back away, but my Converses made that screeching sound. Jackson spun around faster than I knew he was capable of. His eyes widened, and the color in them looked neon. His golden bronze hair was wet and slicked back.
He cursed. “Bettina…?” A couple beads of sweat slid over his pec muscle, then down.
I watched it flow over his abs like a river cutting through the mountains until— Oh Goddess. Not the V. But it was too late; it was already there. His black sweatpants hung low on his hips, revealing all kinds of muscle and bone structure my brain couldn’t handle at once. I didn’t understand what this boy was doing to me, but he was wreaking havoc on my body.
Abort mission. ABORT, ABORT, ABORT! Get out and save yourselves!
Chapter Thirty
BETTINA
Midterm day. Matt had to be helped to his feet.
Warner and Trey lifted him by the shoulders and carried him over to the benches. His skin was pasty white, aside from the nasty red lump on his forehead…and the red marks on his arms. His talisman was all t
he way across the room.
I looked over the mat at Jackson. He stood in the center, watching Matt with concern in his beautiful aqua eyes. He used his two-toned sword like a cane and leaned into it, looking far too good for the fate of my concentration. I sighed. Okay, maybe it was more like a swoon. But it wasn’t my fault. He looked way too damn good in slim-fitting black jeans, a tight black tank top, and black boots. I’d never seen him in an outfit like that, and it was killing me. I was going to need a trip to the infirmary before my test even started if my pulse didn’t even out.
The worst part was I kept picturing him shirtless. It’d been two days, but I couldn’t get the images out of my head. The way his muscles tightened and flexed. Each of his six abs. The V. Today, he even had a little scruff on his face. I hadn’t known he had facial hair, but I did know he needed to keep it exactly like it was today. Or maybe not. I might die. Sixteen-year-old boys weren’t supposed to look like that…like men. I bit my bottom lip and let my eyes soak him in.
Timothy waved his hand over a crystal bowl, like he’d done every other time. It was some magical version of pulling names out of a hat. They wanted this midterm to be done randomly. White smoke billowed into the air, swirling around, and then transformed into a small piece of parchment.
He grabbed the paper and read it. “Bettina Blair, you’re up.”
A violent tremor ripped through my body. My pulse beat so fast it sounded like a disco song. Those damned butterflies wouldn’t calm down for a second. My hands and legs trembled as I got to my feet and started toward the mat. Oh Goddess. This is it.
It was midterm day. I’d known this was coming.
I still wasn’t ready.
I tried to run through all the moves I’d learned in the six weeks I’d been here, but my mind came up blank. As my Converses hit the mat, my stomach turned. I kept my eyes on the ground, not wanting to look at him until I absolutely had to. My crystal sword was gripped firmly in my right hand, with white magic coiling around the blade. I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing…and not vomiting. It was intimidating as hell to have the entire Swords Suit watching. I felt each and every one of their gazes on me. If they said anything, I couldn’t hear it, not over the pounding of my heart.
Timothy cleared his throat. “You remember the rules?”
The rules: fight until he gets you into a kill position. Tap out before that, and you will be deducted points. No dismembering or direct head shots. No showing off or points will be deducted.
“Yes, sir.” I took a deep breath then opened my eyes and looked up…right into Jackson’s heated gaze. I clenched my teeth to stop myself from making any kind of noises. Why does he have to look so good? I should’ve asked for a spell to not be attracted to him for an hour.
He wasn’t even sweating. He’d already fought fifteen people, yet not a single drop of sweat in sight. My mind replayed the image of sweat rolling down his abs, and I squirmed in place. Concentrate, Bettina!
“Take your places,” Timothy ordered.
We both walked backward then got into fighting stance. All the matches started like this, from fifteen feet away. Something about testing the way we entered a fight. I bounced on my toes, my nerves preventing me from standing still. Whereas Jackson looked like a damn statue. The picture of ease.
Timothy moved back off the mat to stand beside Hewitt and Headmaster Daniel. “BEGIN!”
Jackson took off, sprinting directly toward me at full speed.
Oh god, oh god, oh god. I tightened my grip on my sword and rolled to the balls of my feet, but I didn’t know which way to go because he was coming straight for me. He could go any direction. I just had to be ready to move. He was almost to me, a foot or two away, and I still didn’t know what to do. My pulse fluttered faster than hummingbird wings. Jackson planted one foot then leapt into the air with his sword raised over his head.
Oh sweet Jesus mother of chickens! I swung my sword, but it was too late. His blade slammed into my back and sent me flying forward face-first. I heard Jackson’s voice in my head from training shouting, tuck and roll, tuck and roll! At the last second, I ducked, tucking my arms and rolling so my shoulders hit the mat first. I rolled a few times then slid a few feet on my knees. How in the hell?
But I didn’t have time to question how one smack of his blade sent me flying so fast, because he’d already spun and was gunning for me again. He was on me in seconds. I gasped and threw my sword up. He sliced his sword through the air back and forth without pausing. I’d barely blocked one swing before he was attacking again.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Oh my god. Sweet Jesus. My arms burned. My hand hurt from how hard I gripped the hilt of my sword, but each time his blade hit mine, it rattled. He moved like it was nothing, like his weapon was weightless. He’d forced me all the way across the mat in a matter of seconds.
He jumped in the air and spun in a tight circle…and then kicked me square in the chest. Despite the padded gear I had on, his kick rattled my bones. Pain shot through my body. My breath was knocked out of me. I flew backward then crashed to the mat. My head bounced on the ground. I gasped for air.
And then he was there, looming over me.
“Oh shit.” I dove to the side just as his sword swung down.
I jumped to my feet and faced him as his sword sliced through the air between us. Sharp pain shot up my arm, and then my sword was gone. He’d flicked it right out of my hand. He swung his sword again, and I ducked under it. On my way back up, he swung it again, except this time I kicked my leg up and blocked his shot. And then something slammed into my chest, and I flew backward.
Think, Bettina. He’s got more skill and experience. You’ve been researching for this. For a month, I’d secretly been researching martial arts in my dorm and practicing. I’d yet to try any of the moves on a person yet, so I had no idea if they would work. But I was on my back and he’d knocked my sword away, so this was as good a time as any to try. Here goes nothing.
He slid toward me on his knees and raised his sword. I threw my left hand out and stretched my fingers until I felt the cold metal of my sword hilt. Jackson hovered above me and brought his sword down like he was going for the kill shot. I gripped my sword then threw it up just as Jackson’s sword came down, blocking his shot.
Except he still had unparalleled strength over me so my sword was knocked out of my hand again…but so was his. Pushing off my feet, I rolled onto my shoulders and swung my legs up. I tucked my right leg under his right armpit and threw my left leg up and on top of his other shoulder, in the crook of his neck. Then I summoned all of my strength and flipped him onto his back.
I plucked my sword off the ground, then jumped to my feet, and leapt to where he’d landed on his back. He was already starting to move, so I raised my sword to go for the kill shot. But I should’ve known better. I didn’t see his legs moving until they wrapped around my neck. The muscles in his calves tightened on my head, and then I was flying forward. This time I was helpless to stop myself as I flipped head over heels. My shoulder hit first, and then I slid halfway across the mat.
Right as I stopped sliding, Jackson appeared over me. I gasped and threw my leg up to kick him in the chest, but he grabbed me by the ankle and pulled. And then suddenly, I was airborne again. Did he just— My face crashed into the mat. I groaned and scrambled to my feet. When I got up, he was only a few feet away.
I screamed and charged for him. He raised his sword, assuming I was coming with mine. But I wasn’t. There was no way I was going to beat Jackson with a sword. I was going to have to try something different. At the last second, I dropped my sword. I grabbed his left shoulder and jumped, swinging myself around his back. With my free hand, I grabbed his right shoulder and swung myself upside down. I wrapped my long legs around his neck, with my knees behind his head and my chest pressed to his, and then I flipped him over me.
His back slammed into the mat, but momentum had him bouncing off and rolling.
I picked up my sword the
n pounced on him just as he landed. With my legs straddling his hips, I swung my sword toward his chest. He threw his left hand up and caught my wrist, then flipped me onto my back like I weighed no more than a feather. Faster than I could blink, he was over me, his legs pinning mine to the ground…and my own sword in his hand. I hadn’t even noticed he’d taken it from me. It all happened too soon. He swung his arm down and then stopped with the tip of my opal blade an inch above my eyes.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
I exhaled in a rush and let my body go limp under him. My chest and lungs screamed, burning despite the oxygen trying to get in. My pulse thundered in my ears. Jackson pulled his arm back, moving my sword out of my face. He looked down at me with one eyebrow arched, but his eyes were shining bright. The corner of his lip pulled up on one side into a sexy little smirk.
“Damn it,” I groaned.
He shook his head then stood and pulled me to my feet. The world spun and I stumbled, but he caught me. “Bloody hell.”
“Jackson wins,” Timothy said between laughs, shaking his head, “but nice work, Bettina.”
“YES!” Genevieve cheered and clapped, a wide smile on her face. She skipped over to me, laughing. She clasped my hand and slapped my back. But it was in that friendly kind of way. When she stepped back, she grinned and shook her head. “Damn, B. That’s what I’m talking about. That was some ninja shit.”
Erin was right behind her. “Girl, you are so teaching me that.”
“Where in the hell did you learn that?” Jackson asked, laughing and shaking his head.
I shrugged, my chest heaving. My cheeks warmed, and I knew I was blushing. “Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow, Iron Man 2 when she takes down Hammer Security.”
Jackson’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
The Coven - Academy Magic Complete Series Page 16
